Rick Santorum Ends Campaign and Endorses Marco Rubio

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum officially suspended his presidential campaign Wednesday night and endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination.

Santorum announced his decision on Fox News’ On The Record, telling host Greta Van Sustern that he felt his efforts were best served supporting a candidate who shared the same values—supporting the middle class at home and defeating the Islamic State abroad—and that candidate was Rubio.

“I think we could be better advocates for someone that shared those values by supporting someone in a better position to do that,” Santorum said. “Someone who has a real understanding of the threat of ISIS, fundamentalist Islam and has some experience in that area…That’s why we decided to support Marco Rubio.”

Rubio, who has served in the Senate since 2011, is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and frequently touts his foreign policy experience, particularly as a solution to the ISIS threat, on the campaign trail. He came in third in the Iowa caucuses, placing just behind Donald Trump.

Other endorsements from GOP candidates who have dropped out of the race include former Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsing Ted Cruz, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham supporting Jeb Bush and former New York Gov. George Pataki also endorsing Rubio.